Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
Canoe Guide - Caledonian Canal
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Canoe Tours in Scotland: Caledonian Canal
The Caledonian Canal links the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea and was opened in 1822. Leisure and tourism is
now the main business of the canal and it is mainly used by yachts and motor cruisers. The canal links Fort
William and Inverness and passes through some of the most dramatic scenery in Scotland. Only one third of the
canal is on canal cuttings and the remainder is on lochs, including Loch Ness.
Direction: The prevailing wind is from the SW, so paddle from Fort William to Inverness unless the weather
forcast is predicting northerly or easterly winds.
Start: Corpach Sea Loch or top of the Neptune’s Staircase just north of Fort William.
Finish: Inverness
Transport: There is a bus service between Inverness and Fort William.
Distance: 60 miles (96 km)
Difficulties: Since you cannot use the locks it you will find a canoe trolley useful. The route is easy if there is no
wind, but you must be prepared for strong winds and waves on the lakes. In strong south westerly winds waves up
to 1.5 m can develop on Loch Ness, so it is not a waterway for novices.
Regulations: Canoes cannot be taken through lochs on the British canal system. All canoes must have a valid
licence to use the canal, obtainable from the Caledonian Canal Office or British Waterways
Maps and guidebooks: There are no maps specifically for canoeists, but there are plenty of maps designed for
boaters or hikers which are excellent.
The route:
a) Corpach - Gairlochy 8 miles
Portage the locks at Corpach and paddle a mile to Benavie Locks, known as Neptune’ Staircase. Portage these
locks and continue along the cut canal until you reach Gairlochy where you portage into Loch Lochy.
b) Loch Lochy 10 miles
Paddle up the loch and portage the laggan Locks into the canal.
c) Laggan Locks - Laggan Bridge 1.5 miles
Enter Loch Oich at Lagan Bridge.
d) Loch Oich 4 miles
Paddle up Loch Oich and into the canal.
e) Aberchalder - Fort Augustus 5 miles
This section is a mixture of small lakes and cut canal. You will need to portage the Cullochy Lock and Kytra
Lock before the portage down into Loch Ness at Fort Augustus.
f) Loch Ness 22 miles
Paddle up Loch Ness for 22 miles.
g) Lochend - Clachnaharry Sea Loch 7.5 miles
There is a portage of the Dochgarroch Lock, then along the cut canal to Muirtown Locks in Inverness where
you might decide to end your tour. Otherwise continue on to the Clachnaharry Sea Loch
Information:
Guide to the Waterways Vol 8 Scotland. Published by Nicholson ISBN 0-00-713671-4
British Waterways:
Caledonian Canal :
British Waterways,
Seaport Marina
Muirton Wharf, Inverness IV3 5LS
British Waterways Customer Service Centre
Willow Grange
Church Road
Watford, WD17 4QA
www.scottishcanals.co.uk
enquiries.caledonian@britishwaterways.co.uk
Tel: 01923-201120
There are maps on the Scottish canals website
The Caledonian Canal links the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea and was opened in 1822. Leisure and tourism is
now the main business of the canal and it is mainly used by yachts and motor cruisers. The canal links Fort
William and Inverness and passes through some of the most dramatic scenery in Scotland. Only one third of the
canal is on canal cuttings and the remainder is on lochs, including Loch Ness.
Direction: The prevailing wind is from the SW, so paddle from Fort William to Inverness unless the weather
forcast is predicting northerly or easterly winds.
Start: Corpach Sea Loch or top of the Neptune’s Staircase just north of Fort William.
Finish: Inverness
Transport: There is a bus service between Inverness and Fort William.
Distance: 60 miles (96 km)
Difficulties: Since you cannot use the locks it you will find a canoe trolley useful. The route is easy if there is no
wind, but you must be prepared for strong winds and waves on the lakes. In strong south westerly winds waves up
to 1.5 m can develop on Loch Ness, so it is not a waterway for novices.
Regulations: Canoes cannot be taken through lochs on the British canal system. All canoes must have a valid
licence to use the canal, obtainable from the Caledonian Canal Office or British Waterways
Maps and guidebooks: There are no maps specifically for canoeists, but there are plenty of maps designed for
boaters or hikers which are excellent.
The route:
a) Corpach - Gairlochy 8 miles
Portage the locks at Corpach and paddle a mile to Benavie Locks, known as Neptune’ Staircase. Portage these
locks and continue along the cut canal until you reach Gairlochy where you portage into Loch Lochy.
b) Loch Lochy 10 miles
Paddle up the loch and portage the laggan Locks into the canal.
c) Laggan Locks - Laggan Bridge 1.5 miles
Enter Loch Oich at Lagan Bridge.
d) Loch Oich 4 miles
Paddle up Loch Oich and into the canal.
e) Aberchalder - Fort Augustus 5 miles
This section is a mixture of small lakes and cut canal. You will need to portage the Cullochy Lock and Kytra
Lock before the portage down into Loch Ness at Fort Augustus.
f) Loch Ness 22 miles
Paddle up Loch Ness for 22 miles.
g) Lochend - Clachnaharry Sea Loch 7.5 miles
There is a portage of the Dochgarroch Lock, then along the cut canal to Muirtown Locks in Inverness where
you might decide to end your tour. Otherwise continue on to the Clachnaharry Sea Loch
Information:
Guide to the Waterways Vol 8 Scotland. Published by Nicholson ISBN 0-00-713671-4
British Waterways:
Caledonian Canal :
British Waterways,
Seaport Marina
Muirton Wharf, Inverness IV3 5LS
British Waterways Customer Service Centre
Willow Grange
Church Road
Watford, WD17 4QA
www.scottishcanals.co.uk
enquiries.caledonian@britishwaterways.co.uk
Tel: 01923-201120
There are maps on the Scottish canals website